Pedro Del Mar – VMM Audio Visual Interview
Pedro Del Mar the Mellomania man DJ producer who never stops and is the man in the background taking care of all the business for famous artists and projects, e.g. Roger Shah, DJ Cosmo, Global Experience or Sunlounger, just to name a few. His artists are signed to worlds biggest labels including Armada music, Blackhole, Ministry Of Sound, Anjunabeats and so on. Pedro is the Managing Director of Shah-Music Germany where he runs numerous labels, publishing, production company, booking & artist management, event agency and a new media agency with a great label and licensing network around the globe. In fact he has more than 150 artists from around the world signed to Shah-Music!
As a DJ he plays around the globe: from Hollywood to Shanghai and from Ibiza to South Africa including season openings at the worlds biggest club Privilege on the clubbing mecca island of Ibiza. As a producer he has released in more than 60 countries world-wide including on labels such as Sony, Warner, Jive, Zomba and Black Hole Recordings. He is also responsible for numerous compilation projects including all the highly acclaimed Mellomania Compilations and as an event organizer been responsible for the official event following to the Hollywood blockbuster “Pirates Of The Caribbean 3″. Pedro Del Mar has been voted twice in a row into the Top 200 of the DJ mag poll and is still in the Top 50 of thedjlist.com. The VMM is very pleased speak to Pedro Del Mar and find out in this audio visual interview how it all began and all about the new Mellomania Step 20 compilation.
The Interview:
Hi there Pedro hope you are well and looking forward to another packed year!
VMM Q: Pedro we would like to ask you how did you begin to get involved in the dance music industry and who would you say are your music hero’s?
Pedro Del Mar: Honestly I never wanted to become part of the dance industry or at least not as an artist myself, it just happened. I knew from my brother how tough it is to be successful so wanted to do – lets say a traditional job. When I turned 18 I needed money to pay for my driving license, so I started as lightjockey in a local club in Stuttgart. One day the owner came to me and told me that they need a warm up DJ and that’s where all started cause up to this day I didn’t try myself as a DJ but if I would have refused I can imagine that I would have also lost my LJ job. It’s hard to name one or two “heroes” because there are so many great talents out there. But the one who influenced my most over the years is without any doubt my brother Roger Shah. Not only because we are brothers, but also because the quality of his music is so outstanding. So I would say he is also a kind of hero for me. But there are also some other guys like BT or Oakenfold or Tiesto. It is really impressive what they did over the last decades!
VMM Q: The VMM would like to know Pedro Del Mar what does the Mellomania brand mean can you tell us all about it?
Pedro Del Mar: The Mellomania brand is an independent company based in Germany. Behind the brand you find 3 different international radio show concepts, the compilation series, lifestyle products and different outstanding event concepts. For me personally it not only a company but a way of living. Music should be full of emotions and feelings and that’s what we try to do with Mellomania. It doesn’t matter where you are based, who or what you are or which religion you have. The Mellomania is uniting every month millions of listeners to spend a short while together to feel the vibe of Mellomania and the emotions of music.
VMM Q: Looking at the track list there are fantastic names on this Mellomania Step 20 compilation so how months did it take you to narrow down this great selection of tracks and producers Pedro and where can DJ producers submit their promo tracks for the next Mellomania compilation?
Pedro Del Mar:In fact I started straight after finishing Mellomania 19 back in November. I’m always trying to have a great mix of world-known artists like Armin Van Buuren, Ferry Corsten or Tiesto but I’m always presenting brand new talents you might have never heard before. So as the Mellomania 21 will be released in autumn, producers are already welcome to submit their exclusive tunes. The easiest thing is to send me a download link to a 320 kbit full length file and I will review the tunes as soon as I can,
VMM Q: Pedro can you tell the VMM are there any exclusive tracks included on this Mellomania Step 20 compilation and which are your fav tracks from this compilation?
Pedro Del Mar: Yes indeed. In fact around 50% of the tracks are totally exclusive on this compilation and around 85% are globally for the first time on a compilation at all.
VMM Q: Pedro with all your many years of experience working and producing in the dance music industry for well over several years can you tell the VMM what for you makes a perfect dance track?
Pedro Del Mar: The best thing in music is that there is no guide for a perfect dance track and there can’t be any guide because music is something personal and subjective. So you can ask 100 people for their judgement of a tune and you will get 95 different answers, but the main thing for me in music is that it should be something emotional. You need express certain feeling composing and producing a track. That is the main thing music should be about: emotions and feelings.
VMM Q: The VMM would like to know what studio set up do you have Pedro and can you give any tips on how to get a good mastered pumping sound for a final mix?
Pedro Del Mar: Well I used to work on Logic over the last years but now I’m on Cubase. It is hard to explain how you can master a tune to get the perfect sound as it always depends on the tune and stlye. But the key thing is to have a really good mixdown where all instruments sound sorted and clear. Many producers do make the mistake to use too many sounds and especially they don’t invest that much time on the mixing of this. No doubt it is the most boring part of a productions but if you ask me the most important part. When the mixing is bad it is impossible to do a solid mastering!
VMM Q: Pedro if you’re not mixing or producing dance music what other music do you enjoy and get inspiration from these days that translates into your music productions?
Pedro Del Mar: Honestly I’m completely open minded. I don’t really care about a certain style when I listen to music as long as the music touches me. As previously mentioned it is all about emotions and feelings. In fact I’m also listening to Rock or Pop music, same as Ambient, Accoustic and even soundtrack music. So I don’t see any reasons why somebody should only listen to one certain style instead of everything or at least some other music. But yes listening to other kinds of music is definitely inspirational even though I mostly get my inspirations from my trips when I’m touring.
VMM Q: Pedro Del Mar can you tell the VMM what you most love about djing and producing dance music in this new digital age and what’s your thoughts on digital Laptop djing to CD djing these days?
Pedro Del Mar: First of all I wanna say that I don’t judge DJs performing with a Laptop, CDs, Vinyls or even an USB stick or SD Card. Everyone should do it the way that works best for him. I used to be a vinyl junky but as most tunes are not available on vinyls anymore I moved myself from vinyls to CDs. But in fact everyone should choose whatever works best for him and for his show. What I personally love is being able to present the Mellomania sound to people all around and to take them for a few moments on an emotional journey with me. I really love meeting and talking to people around the world and to experience the most different cultures. And with my own productions I’m trying to share my own experiences and inspirations from all those trips.
VMM Q: The VMM would like to know will you be touring this compilation the Mellomania Step 20 compilation this year and if so where and when can we see you hit the decks Pedro in 2011?
Pedro Del Mar:
Yeah exactly. I’m actually on tour on some continents. The next three gigs are on
April 30th in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
May 1st in Macao China
May 4th in Novosibirsk Russia
But also gigs in Europe an Central and Latin America are on my schedule for the next months.
VMM Q: Your career is going from strength to strength Pedro so can you tell the VMM what goals have you set for yourself now for 2011 that you would like to achieve this year?
Pedro Del Mar: After a gig break in 2010 and I’m definitely trying to tour as much as I can, performing in as many countries as possible. I’m also working on Vol. 2 of my “Pedro Del Mar – Playa Del Lounge” CD series which is dedicated to Chillout and Ambient and which is going to be released in mid June on Black Hole Recordings. There will also be a couple of own single releases on Shah-Records, High Contrast and some other labels and who knows, maybe its time for my first solo album by the end of the year. We will see
The VMM thanks Pedro Del Mar for taking time out to speak to us and we wish you further success in 2011. Also don’t forget to check out the Mellomania Step 20 Compilation VMM album Review and you can buy Mellomania Step 20 compilation in all good online stores now!. Also don’t for get to check out Pedro Del Mar’s latest VMM APRIL 2011 Reviews.
Check out the VMM Mellomania REVIEW NOW!
Mellomania Step 20 – Import
CD1 – mixed by Pedro Del Mar
01. Pedro Del Mar & illitheas – Bahia Del Sol (illitheas Mix)
02. The King & The Thief – The Blacksmith (Klauss Goulart Remix)
03. Amex & Jason van Wyk – Moments (Van Dresen Remix)
04. Richard Durand featuring Ellie Lawson – Wide Awake (Full Vocal)
05. Alphadelta – Sandcastle (Original Mix)
06. Dash Berlin featuring Emma Hewitt – Disarm Yourself (Club Mix)
07. Ronny K – Onyx (illitheas Remix)
08. First Effect featuring Olivia – Humanity Highway (Cylum, Velden & Christopher V Remix)
09. Stonevalley – Alcatraz (Sequentia Remix)
10. Roger Shah presents Sunlounger featuring Lorilee – Life (Pedro Del Mar Remix)
11. Adam Nickey presents Blue 8 – Livia (Original Mix)
12. Pedro Del Mar & Blue Tente – Road To Zanzibar (Pedro Del Mar Mix)
13. Will Holland featuring Jeza – Start Again (Juventa Remix)
14. illitheas – Another Day (Original Mix)
15. Veselin Tasev – Desire (ReOrder & Dave Deen Remix)
16. Hysteria! – What You Want (Trance Arts Uplifting Mix)
17. Etasonic – Resume (Etasonics Sentimental Club Mix)
18. Aly & Fila featuring Tiff Lacey – Paradise (Club Mix)
CD2 – mixed by Pedro Del Mar
01. Pedro Del Mar – Aurora (Intro Mix)
02. Alan Connor – Stone Cold (Beltek Club Mix)
03. Ruby & Tony vs. Rio Vegas – Inside You (Original Mix)
04. Whiteroom featuring Amy Cooper – Someday (Orjan Nilsen Remix)
05. First State featuring Sarah Howells – Reverie (First State’s Pounding Club Mix)
06. Druid – Just The Sea (Lead Mix)
07. Cerf, Mitiska & Jaren – Another World (Original Vocal Mix)
08. Ivan Mateluna featuring Jess Bennett – Scandal (Original Extended Mix)
09 Lustral – I Feel You (Album Mix)
10. Adam Tas featuring Monika – 1am (Adam Tas Dub Mix)
11. Kirsty Hawkshaw vs. Kinky Roland – Fine Day Reloaded (Pedro Del Mar Remix)
12. Jose Amnesia featuring Jennifer Rene – Louder (Alex M.O.R.P.H. Remix)
13. Spark7 & Magdalene – Rebirth (Original Mix)
14. C-Systems – Love Again (Vocal Mix)
15. Airborne Cities – All I Need (Extended Mix)
16. Arisen Flame – Ocean Rainbow (Original Mix)
17. Cosmic Gate featuring Jan Johnston – Raging (Alexander Popov Vocal Remix)
18. Pedro Del Mar & ReOrder feat. Fisher – Reaching Out (Pedro Del Mar Mix)
19. Super8 & Tab featuring Julie Thompson – My Enemy (Rank1 Remix)
20. Tritonal featuring Cristina Soto – Lifted (Album Mix)
